mvf-m11c birthday Live TR at WDW on Dec 10-17, 2010

[skiingfast]

your right I meant AK.


It won't be a problem going into Epcot though. Think of it this way, since people can have ADR's upto 9, they could be showing up at 8:45 to the gates. Anyway it won't be a problem.

I've heard Boardwalk was doing some parking lot work and got restrictive about letting non hotel guests park there. But you might consider parking at the Beach Club for "dinner at Cape May Cafe" and using the international gateway. That way you will avoid some crowds coming back and enter the park right next to the world showcase lagoon.

Never Mind I saw that you are going to City Walk for dinner on arrival day. Enjoy Bball Brugers.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Tomorrow is the day that my DA and I will be at WDW resort during the Holiday season.

I'll use this page as my start up on my signature. Hope you read my TR.

 

[tksbaskets]

Tomorrow is the day that my DA and I will be at WDW resort during the Holiday season.

I'll use this page as my start up on my signature. Hope you read my TR.

Have fun Bret! I'm looking forward to hearing about your adventures

 

[mvf-m11c]

Hello all there readers who are following my TR. My name is Bret and this is my live TR at WDW Dec. 10-17, 2010. Mostly I am in the DL forum doing all my posts and TR. But this is a special trip for me and my DA since you read from my PTR on the first page. I hope you will be able to read my live TR and will update and post pictures on this thread and my DL thread.

To start off my TR, my DA and I have left our home in Sacramento at 4:30am and head on over to Sacramento International Airport (SMF) at 4:50. We are planning on leaving from SMF to LAX around 6:15am and get there around 7:45am. We are currently waiting at SMF and get on board to LAX. It is a quiet morning with a lot of people who are waiting to get to LAX. When we get to LAX around 7:45am than we will transfer over to the flight to Orlando (MCO) around 8:35am. Than we should be able to reach Orlando around 4:30pm eastern time.

If we do get lucky and get a bump, we possibly will do that. Just like on my last trip in March/April my family got two bumps to Orlando and had to wait the next day. But I am not planning on taking a bump for Saturday since my DA and I are doing the Steam Engine tour tomorrow morning. It will be nice to get another bump, we will wait and see.

I'll keep updating my TR when I get to LAX and than to Orlando. Thx for reading my TR.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I just got at Orlando safely and I am resting up in my hotel (Sheraton Vistana Resort). Now is the time to write part of my TR today.

My DA and I left SMF around 6:20am, and it was a little late for us to leave SMF. We flown for about an hour and a half and we got to LAX around 8:00am and we just barely made our 8:35am flight to Orlando. When we got out of the plane around 8:10am, we head on straight over to the gate where the flight was leaving to Orlando. Luckily the gate was right next to the gate we got out. There were still people entering the plane so we went to the bathroom. We got on the plane around 8:20am. The good thing about it is that it i not that full. We got to Orlando 4:10pm eastern time. That was 10 min faster than I have predicted.

We got out of the plane and head on over to get our bags. For our rental we had Alamo and we got a black Sebran. I wanted to choose a better car, but there were not too many of a selection so I just select that car.

We left the airport around 5:00pm and head on over to the Sheraton Vistana Resort. The weather is really nice and even though it is cloudy, it is still nice weather.

Than we checked-in at the main building of the resort around 5:30pm.

I'll write more of my TR later but here are some pics of the room that my DA and I are staying.

Here is me in the living room.

 

[funatdisney]

Hey Bret, Liza here from the DL side. Glad to hear that you made it safely. I have stayed at the Sheraton Vistana Resort for my very first trip to WDW in 1998. We loved staying there. If we were not DVC members, we would be staying there when we go to WDW.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Thx Liza for subscribing to my TR. The Sheraton Vistana Resort is very nice and the staff are very friendly. The rooms are very nice with a full kitchen, living room, master bedroom and double bedroom.

I was kind of disappointed of not going to CityWalk tonight with my DA. But it was getting late and we need some supplies for the room we are staying. So we went to Costco and a supermarket called Sedano's. For dinner we went to a fast food stand called Steak N' Shake. I have ate at this restaurant back during my last trip. I had the steak burger while my DA had the grilled chicken sandwich.

Than we head on back to the resort and unload all our groceries and watch the Lakers vs Bulls game on ESPN. Now we are about to go to sleep so we would be able to get up very early in the morning for the Steam Engine tour at the MK. I am very excited to do the Steam Engine tour tomorrow and looking forward to use my Premier pass at the resort. I will update for tomorrow and hope everything goes well.

 

[tksbaskets]

Glad you arrived safely. Your room looks quite pleasant. How long at drive to WDW from where you are?

Have a good night's sleep and enjoy WDW tomorrow!

 

[skiingfast]

Your room looks quite pleasant. How long at drive to WDW from where you are?

It's really close. As the bird flies you go out the back of Vistana over I-4 and you be over the odd office buildings disney made by DTD. Next to Vistana is Vista Way which is Disney Employee housing.

Bret, your room has the same layout as the one when I stayed there. I was in the older part to the north edge of Vistana, where is yours, I wonder if Phase II or whatever is the same style buildind. Take some pictures of the kitchen and other bedroom please so I can keep reliving my past.

Hope the tour is awesome!

 

[KCmike]

I'm on board. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on Christmas time at WDW. We finally did Xmas at DL this year and have always wanted to see the resort hotels decorated and all the other extras. Looking at your touring plans makes me remember all the walking we use to do at the world. Have fun!

 

[amamax2]

I'm here!

Looking forward to hearing more!

 

[mvf-m11c]

I just got back from the MK and the whole day was great and looking forward to my live TR.

Glad you arrived safely. Your room looks quite pleasant. How long at drive to WDW from where you are?

Have a good night's sleep and enjoy WDW tomorrow!

Thx tksbaskets. It is just like what I have seen when I seen the floor model back in March/April. When I went this morning to the MK from the Vistana hotel, it took around 10 minutes to get to the parking lot.

Bret, your room has the same layout as the one when I stayed there. I was in the older part to the north edge of Vistana, where is yours, I wonder if Phase II or whatever is the same style buildind. Take some pictures of the kitchen and other bedroom please so I can keep reliving my past.

Hope the tour is awesome!

I am right now back at the hotel room and resting up for F! later tonight. I will post the pictures of the room shortly, but right now I am posting the tour photos.

The tour was great. It took longer than I expected, we finished around 11am today and I planned to be finished around 10:15. But the extra time during the tour was fun. I will write my TR shortly.

Today was really crowded. I thought the park would be less crowded but what do I know about WDW crowds than DL crowds.

I'm on board. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on Christmas time at WDW. We finally did Xmas at DL this year and have always wanted to see the resort hotels decorated and all the other extras. Looking at your touring plans makes me remember all the walking we use to do at the world. Have fun!

Thx Mike for subscribing my WDW TR. The decorations around the MK are very nice and I have just started my trip so I will post a lot of pics during my stay and when I get back home. The pics you post on the disney at Christmas thread are very nice and it shows that you are very good at taking pictures.

I'm here!

Looking forward to hearing more!

Thx amamax2.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Now is the time to do my TR for Saturday Dec. 11. Today is my birthday and now I am 29 years old.

This morning at 6am, my DA and I have got up and was heading on over to the MK for the Steam Engine tour. We still didn't get enough rest because of the time change from the west coast to the east coast so we only got about 5 hours of sleep last night. But that did not stopped the two of us to get up early in the morning. When we got up, we took a shower and changed to our clothes and head out of the Sheraton Vistana Resort and head on over to the MK. We left around 6:20am.

Than we head on over to the MK and got to the parking gate at the MK and showed them my AP and the CM let us through. So just like DL gets free parking with a premium pass, with the premier you get free parking at WDW also. When we parked the car, there was no one out there just CMs waiting to tell us where to park. We got to the parking lot around 6:40am and than another person parked right next to us and he was also doing the Steam Engine tour and the three of us walked together to the park. His family didn't want to do the tour so he went by himself.

The car right next to us was also participating in the tour.

Than we got walked over to the TTA, the Express monorail was not running as well as the ferry. So we had to wait until the resort monorail came from the Contemporary. We only had to wait only 5 minutes and we rode the resort monorail towards the MK station. We got to ride on Mark VI Orange.

Polynesian Monorail station with Holiday decorations

We got to the MK main entrance around 6:55am and we were the first ones there at the main gate. The Security CMs told us to wait at the front of the gates and wait for our Tour Guide CM conductor. Than while the day was going by more and more people started to show up for the tour. The regular park guests are coming one after another during the day. Than around 7:20am, our CM conductor arrived. His name was Jack and I could tell that he is a very experience conductor and was going to be a great tour. We were introducing to everyone in our group and he was talking about the history of the WDWRR.

I will write my on my iPad than my CPU since it is running very slowly.

 

[amamax2]

Happy Birthday Bret!

What a wonderful way to spend it!

Thanks for the great report and pictures....as I scrolled through, I could feel my own excitement building that you got there in the dark and were one of the first cars in the lot - I could just imagine arriving like that and how cool that would be.

And I love the flower bed in the front of MK - different but the same as ours - I really like the decorated tree in the flower bed.

 

[funatdisney]

Hi Bret. Happy Birthday! I'm lovin' your TR so far. I can tell already that I'm going to feel like I'm right there with you.

 

[mvf-m11c]

If I remember correctly that I am at the main entrance of the MK with the conductor CM and the group.

When we introduced to each other at the main Gate, we got to go into the park and talked more about the history of the WDWRR. There were some guests waiting at the rope drop underneath the MS station to get into the park at 8am. When we walked into MS, e park was just barely filled with some guests and there was a group of future CMs doing s tour of the park. We were waiting to go into the MS station until the opening act on the MS station was over.

When the show was over, we went up toasted the MS station, but we had to wait until the actors from the show came out. We got to see Daisy, Pluto, and Mickey. Than we went up the ramp and we got to see the Walter E. Disney steam engine #1. Mostly during the opening train, it is the Lily Belle, but it was not in the park and it was actually away for maintenance. So we got to ride on WED engine #1 with the lily belle cars (the green cars). We got on the train and rode the train all the way towards the TT station.

Than the conductor for the train (not our CM tour guide) switch the train over to the side track and he talked about the safety of the side track and lights. Than we board on the train and went back to the barnyard.

When we got to the backstage, the Roy O. Disney engine #4 was already to go into the park while we did not see the Rogger Broggie engine #2 since it is already in the park. We back partially into the roundhouse and I was amazed as how the roundhouse was so big. We got to see WED cars and all the equipment the engineers use to maintain the engines. Than the train moved back forward outside and we got off the train. We moved back since they are uncoupling the lily belle car set so the WED engine can hook up with it's own car set. Since the lily belle cars don't have safety bars on the left side, the WED engine had to switch back to it's cars. Than we went towards the Roy O Disney engine and got to go up in the cabins and was really fun to be in. Jack told us more about how they maintain the engines and get them ready for the opening of the park. Than we board the Roy O Disney and head on back over to the park.

When we got TT station, we got off the train and to get pictures with our CM tour guide Jack. I have it on my flickr so u can check it out. After we finished taking pics of the Roy O Disney, we got back on the train and head on over to MS station.

We got off and head on over to the CM tour guide building. Our CM was talking about the time that he had Michael brogue on one of Jacks tours and was so delighted about it. Than he kept talking about how the resort acquired the steam engines.*

Than we went over to the MS station where the details of the engines were being told underneath the station. He to,d us more of the history of the engines and how the Roy O Disney engine wasn't part of the opening day until it was ready after two months. Than we head on upstairs to the station and he talked about how walt love trains so much that he started the Carolwood Pacific in his backyard. We got to see a diogrsm of the pictures from the Carolwood Pacific. Than the tour was about to be over until we got our pin for completing the tour.

I was so impressed with the tour that it was worth every penny. I finally got to see the roundhouse that I always wanted to see and the monorail barnyard upstairs. If I had the opportunity to the tour again and I will do it again.

I will write the rest of my TR later.

 

[skiingfast]

Bret, Happy Birthday I hope it included a piece of cake.

Very interesting about how the tour went. All everyone ever talks about is the roundhouse. Which isn't round, did they mention that? They rarely mention anything besides it and you spoke a lot about being in the MS station. How was the time slit?

Did you find it weird when you got to the parking lot and it was empty? Did you find the car ok when you went home?

 

[KCmike]

Interesting report. Great behind the scenes action. Looking forward to more of your trip. Happy Birthday!!!

PS. We got to ride the Lilly Belle for the first time this past summer at DL. We had them get out the book of pictures and on the fantasyland stop everyone was looking at us like "oh how lucky are they" and we heard one group say "they must be famous". Isn't that funny? It was so much fun to be in something so nostalgic.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Thx Matt and Mike. The tour was very nice and it was fun.

Yes Matt, I was the first one parked close to the TTC and I didn't have to take the tram. When I parked my car first thing in the morning, the car shown in my first pic was also there for the tour. It was very early in the morning and we were so tired that day.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Now to finished part of my TR from yesterday.

After we finished the tour in the MS station, it was around 11am so my ridemax.com plan is useless now since we started late and my DA was tired. So the first thing we did was that my DA was hungry so we head on over to Tomorrowland at Cosmic Ray's restaurant. But first we walked down MS and it was really crowded when we finished the tour.

Than we walked down Tomorrowland and saw that most of the ride wait times have gone up around 11am. BLSRS was already at 30+ minutes and AO was at least 20+, even PeopleMover had wait line.

We than head on over to Cosmic Ray's restaurant and have lunch. My DA had the veggie burger and I had the bacon double burger. The food at Cosmic Rays were not that good and we didn't finished the rest of it. This is way worse than DL Tomorrowland Terrace restaurant. At least I won't eat there again in the future.

After lunch, we went over to the PeopleMover and rode on it. Than after PeopleMover, we went to Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. My DA really loved the show and it was fun.

Than we head on over to Liberty Square and get to see Hall of Presidents that my DA wanted to see at DL.

It was around 2pm so we decided it was time to head back to the room and get ready for F! that night. But before we left the MK, we saw that they had the Mickey Snowman Popcorn bucket right by Liberty Square so my DA and I have picked up two buckets. I also heard from the DL forum that they have plenty of buckets at DL. Talk about a price difference at DL and WDW where the WDW buckets go for $9.50 and DL is going for $11.

Than we looked at the castle when we walked out.

We got out of the MK around 2:20 and got back in the car and head back to the Sheraton Vistana Resort and rest up for F! that night.

I will write the rest of the TR.